Beverage dispensing apparatus



June 12, 1956 F, WELTY ET AL 2,750,076

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IO u1o INVENTOR5 2 FRANK WELTY RAY MOND W ELTY BY ww ATTORNEY June 12, 1956F. WELTY ETAL BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May12, 1953 YY m3 VEE ww \v N 0 mm R at A OOQQQQQQQOT 7 6 m w I: A

FETL

BY M

ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 w -r ETAL 2,750,076

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS I Filed May 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F5:6 Fi -.7

INVENTORS FRANK WELTY RAYMOND WELTY BY z A'ITO NEY United States PatentOflice signorsto Carbonic Dispenser; inc Caaiield, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application May 12, 1953', SerialNu. 354,617

15 Claims. (CL 2221211) The present invention relates to apparatus foruse in dispensing carbonated beverages and the like", and moreparticularly to an improved arrangement for distributing a plurality ofbeverages from a single self-contained dispensing cabinet or structure,and to certain specific improvements in such cabinet or structurewhereby thes'atne is rendered more suitable for the purpose intended.

An overall object of the present invention is the provision of aself-contained cabinet installation for dispensing a plurality ofcarbonated beverages which is characterized by a general compactness ofdesign, economy of construction, ease and simplicity of servicing andmaintenance, and versatility of application.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision of acompact self-contained carbonated beverage dispensing cabinet which isarranged to house a plurality of containers for beverage flavoringsyrup, apparatus for producing adequate supplies of carbonated water,and apparatus for refrigerating the beverages to a' satisfactorydrinking temperature. In general, the" apparatus of the presentinvention incorporates a beverage mixing and dispensing valve of thetype disclosed in our co-pending' applications Ser. No. 97,409 filedJune 6, 1949, now Patent No. 2,653,055, and Ser. No. 215,205 filed March31; 1951, now Patent No. 2,702,051, and an automatic carbonating deviceof the type disclosed in our U. S. Patent No. 2,588,677, among othernovel features, whereby a plurality of beverages may be supplied from asingle compact cabinet having a minimum of external connections.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision in a dispensinginstallation as characterized above of a novel and highly practicalarrangement for housing a plurality of flavoring syrup containers inoperative relation with the other components whereby, when periodicallynecessary, ready access may be had to the containers for refilling thesame with flavoring extract;

Another object of theinvent'io'n is the provisioninap paratus of thetype described of an improved arrangement" for providing a supply ofrefrigerated carbonated water. Andamo'ng' other things this objectcontemplatesaii improved arrangement for providing a reserve supply ofcarbonated water and an improved and more economical"- arrangement forcooling such supply to proper serving temperature. v V

In connection with the above object, it is stunner object of thisinvention to provide a dispensing" iii'st'al lation of the general typeindicated which includes,

combination with the above mentioned improvedarran'gef ment forsupplying carbonated water, a novel and int p'rove'd arrangement forproviding a supply of chilled fresh water for dispensing alone or withVarious-flavoring syrups as may be desired.

Another object of the invention resides in a dispensing installation ofthe type described of an improved dis= pensing cabinet or structure andarrangement 'ofcom ponen ts whereby ready access may be hadto thecarbonating apparatus and to electrical controls and the like 2 so thatmaintenance and repairs, if and when required, may be accomplished withease and in a minimum of time.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a selfc'ontained multi-fiavor beverage dispensing cabinet including a beveragemixing dispensing valve which is characterized by improved arrangementsfor mounting such valve at the top of the cabinet along with otherimproved arrangements for providing access from the top of the cabinetto other components of the dispensing installation housed within thecabinet. 7 And this object further contemplates a simplifiedmodification of the apparatus whereby the same may be adapted toinstallations wherein one or more mixing and dispensing valves arepositioned remotely of the dispensing cabinet.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon full consideration of the following detailed specificationand accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a certain preferredembodiment of our invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a self-contained beverage dispensingcabinet constructed in accordance with the teachings of our invention,the embodiment illustra'ted being adapted for dispensing three flavoredcarbonated beverages;

Figure '2 is' a section view of a four-flavor dispensing installation ofthe type shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa section view taken generally along line ITI I-II' of Figure2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view taken generally along line IV-IV ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the top structure of the dispensingcabinet of our invention.

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary views of the apparatus ofFigure 2, illustrating certain novel features of construction thereof;and

' Figure 8 is a simplified schematic representation of a novelarrangement, as taught by our invention, for providing supplies ofchilled carbonated and fresh water.

7 Referring now to the drawing, and initially to Figure 2 thereof, thereis shown our dispensing cabinet which comprises a plurality of anglemembers 10 and 11 forming a base structure, and fixed back and sidewalls 12 and 1-3 formed of suitable sheet metal. In the preferredarrangement the base structure includes short wall portions 14 and 15having inwardly directed supporting portions 16 forming, in effect aslightly raised platform upon which the bulk of the cabinet isconstruc'ted. To impart strength and rigidity to the cabinet assemblythere may be provided a suitable skeleton framework of angle and otherstructural members, as shown at 17 at the upper forward edge of thecabinet. And the side walls 12 and 13 may beprovided with intur'ned edgeportions, as at 18 for example. By means of angle member 17 and inturnededge portions 18 and 19 there is provided a sup porting surface aboutthe edges of the cabinet, which surface provides support for top covermembers 20 and 21' to be hereafter described in more detail.

. Inaccordance with the teachings of the invention the interior of thecabinet is divided into forward and rear sections 22 and 23,respectively, by means of a dividing wall 24, and the forward section 22is provided with a suitable floor or other support 25 which is mountedon the basestructure in spaced relation to the floor 26 of the tavern orrefreshment stand in which the installation is operated.

As illustratedin Figure 2, the supporting floor 25, located in the frontsection 22 of the cabinet, is provided withan upwardlyand inwardlyturned forward edge portion 27 which both forms a retaininglip attheforward edge of the support and defines a space of predetermined widthbetween the lip 27 and dividing wall 24. In accordance with theteachings of the invention the supporting floor 25 is adapted tosupport, in the space so defined, a plurality of containers 28 forflavoring syrup or extract, which containers may be of a five galloncapacity, for example. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 thefloor is of sufficient length to support three such containers 28 whilethe embodiment of Figure 2 may be adapted to support four containers asshown in Figure 3. Also in accordance with the teachings of theinvention each container 28 is provided with a flexible conduitconnection 29 connected to a common manifold conduit 30 and thence to asource, not shown, of carbon dioxide or other gas under pressure, and asecond flexible conduit 31 providing a syrup oulet for the container andpassing through the dividing wall 24 into the rear section 23 of thecabinet as will be hereafter more fully explained.

Extending vertically between the angle member 17 and the inturned lip 27is a removable door 32 which encloses the forward section 22 of thecabinet and serves as a front side of the entire cabinet assembly aswill be apparent. Preferably, the door 32 may be quickly detached fromthe cabinet assembly to provide access to the syrup containers 28, andto this end we may provide suitable means, as at 33, at the lower end ofthe door 32 to engage the upturned lip 27, and a releasable latch 34 atthe upper end of the door adapted to engage the angle member 17.

To further provide easy access to the syrup containers 28 and tosimplify refilling thereof as much as possible we have secured flexiblechains 35 to each of the containers, each of which chains is in turnsecured to some fixed member of the general cabinet structure. Inaccordance with the teachings of the invention the chains 35 are of suchlength that the upper ends of the containers 28 may be tilted outwardlyof the cabinet structure sufficiently to fully expose the tops of thecontainers. The tops 36 of the containers are removable, in accordancewith usual practice, and thus, as shown in Figure 1, refilling of thecontainers 28 may be accomplished by merely tilting the containersoutwardly of the cabinet, after which the containers are retained insuch position by the chains 35 during filling thereof, which isgenerally done by emptying the contents of several commercial gallonjugs or containers 37 into the open tops of the tilted containers 28. Itwill be noted that the inturned lip 27 and dividing wall 24 serve toconfine the lower ends of the containers 28 at all times so that thesame may be tilted into exposed position with a maximum of ease andrapidity. The flexible conduits 29 and 31 are provided with sufficientslack so that the same may be readily extended to the limit of the chain35 as the containers 28 are tilted outwardly. And usually it isdesirable to provide each container with suitable valve means, notshown, whereby gas pressure may be relieved from the containersindividually during filling thereof.

In order to prevent any rolling of the containers from one side to theother while the same are tilted outwardly we have provided a novelsupporting arrangement for the containers which is shown in detail inFigures 6 and 7. Referring therefore to the last mentioned figures, itwill be observed that the supporting floor 25 comprises a raisedplatform portion 25a which is of less width than the diameter of thecontainer 28 and which is spaced substantially from the innermost edgeof the inturned lip 27. The arrangement is such that the forward adge ofthe container 28 overhangs the platform portion 25a and is positionedover a recessed portion 25b between the platform 25a and lip 27.

Thus, as will be observed in Figure 7, when the container 28 is tiltedoutwardly into filling position, the forward edge of the container 28will be received in the recess 25b while the forward edge of theplatform portion 25a engages and supports the container along a linelocated substantially inwardly of the forward edge of the container.

By the above described arrangement there is provided a substantial linecontact between the platform portion 25a and the container 28 when thelatter is in tilted position so that there is no tendency for thecontainer to roll from one side to the other.

Mounted in the rear section 23 of the cabinet and supported in spacedrelation to the base of the cabinet by means of suitable structuralmembers 38 and 39 is a liquid retaining tank 40 which may be insulated,as shown, and which is preferably provided with high rear and side walls41 and 42. Positioned within the tank 40 adjacent but spaced somewhatfrom the walls thereof is a U-shaped coil 43 which comprises theevaporating chamber of a refrigerating system including a conventionalmotorcompressor-condenser arrangement 44 mounted below the tank 40. Inaccordance with preferred construction the coil 43 is provided with aplurality of spaced fins 45 which serve to maintain the varioussuperimposed layers of the coil in properly spaced relation and tosupport and maintain the coil 43 in spaced relation with the side wallsof the tank 40.

Positioned within the tank 40 and within the limits of the coil 43 andspaced therefrom is a second coil 46 which is adapted to be connected toa fresh water supply, not shown, and which serves as a heat exchangerfor cooling fresh water to or substantially to serving temperature.

Also located within the tank 40 and centrally with respect to the watercoil 46 is a vertically disposed tank 47 forming part of a carbonatordevice of the type disclosed and claimed in our U. S. Patent No.2,588,677, Automatic Liquid carbonator. The carbonator device isconnected to the water coil 46 through a suitable check valve 48 and jetnozzle 49 (see Figure 4) and to a source of carbon dioxide gas underpressure through a second check valve 50. Suitable electrode devices 51and 52 control the flow of water into the carbonator tank 47. And inaccordance with the teachings of our abovementioned patent fresh wasteris periodically injected at high velocity into the tank 47 to foamescethe body of water contained therein whereby the water rapidly andthoroughly absorbs carbon dioxide which is maintained under pressure inthe top portion of the tank. The water thus carbonated is drawn out fromthe lower portion of the tank through a tube 53 which leads throughconduit 54 to a special mixing and dispensing valve 55 where thecarbonated water is mixed with a selected flavoring syrup duringdispensing of a drink from the valve.

It is in accordance with the teachings of our invention that the watercoil 46 be connected in series with the carbonator tank 47 but ahead ofthe latter in the direction of flow of the liquid so that only freshwater will be carried by the coil. Thus it is unnecessary to provide acooling coil for carbonated water, as heretofore, which makes itpossible to effect substantial savings in the construction of thecabinet assembly. Carbonated Water must be contained and conducted bycontainers and conduit of stainless steel or similar non-corrosivematerial, while plain water may be conducted by copper conduit which issubstantially more economical than stainless steel. Thus, by providingthat only fresh water is contained in the coil 46 the same may beconstructed of copper tubing rather than stainless steel as has beenheretofore necessary. In addition, by positioning the water cooling coil46 ahead of the carbonator tank 47 we may conveniently provide a freshwater tap 46' leading to the valve 55 whereby adequately cooled freshwater or non-carbonated flavored drinks may be dispensed when desired.

In order to provide separate supplies of chilled carbonated and freshwater while incorporating an improved carbonator device of the typedisclosed in our aforementioned prior patent and while maintaining theapparatus as simple and economical as possible, we have proposed a novelfluid circuit arrangement as illustrated in Figure 8.

It,.w.ill be understood, in connection with the operation of ourcarbonator device, that in order to inject a high velocitystream ofwater into. the carbonator tank against a gas pressure of, for example125v p.. s. L. it is. usually necessary to provide. a suitable pumpingdevice 83 which isconnected at. its inlet side to a fresh water supply84 and at its outlet side to the carbonator tank 47. And in the.interest of compactness of. general: design,.and: for other. reasons, itis preferable. to. position the. pump- 83 ahead of the cooling coil 46.In. accordance with our prior teachings the pump 83 operates.periodically when the water level inthe. carbonatortankreachesapredetermined low level, and such operation is. discontinued. when thetank: 47 is. filled to a predeterminedhigh level.

Thus, it will be noted that thefresh water conduit 46', whichcommunicates with the cooling coil 46, will be subjecttowater pressurevariations, depending on whether or not the pump 83 is. in operation- Toavoid the effect of such variations at. the dispensing, valve 55 we haveprovided a pressure regulatingvalve 85in the fresh water conduit 46-which valve may be adjusted. to. provide a constant. water pressure of,for example, ,30. p. s. i. at the valve 55.

Generally, to insure proper operation of the. carbonator apparatus, thepump 83 should be of a positive displace.- ment type. Accordingly, topermit a flow of fresh water to. the valve 55 during times whenthe pump.83v is not operating we prefer to employ a novel type commercially.availablepump which. is providedv with a. suitable. low. pressure.bypass valve 87 which will: permita flow of water in by-passing relationto the pump upon opening of thefresh waterv tap of, the valve 55. Intheillustrated arrangement the valve 87 is combined with. an oppositelydisposed relief'valve, arranged to open at about 20.0 p. s..i.,. forexample, but it will be understood that any suitable hypass valvearrangement may be employed. for the purpose herein intended;

In the present embodiment of ourv invention, the use of the bypassvalve. 87 contemplates a water pressure atthe source 84. which issomewhat less than the gas pressure. maintained in the carbonator tank47 so that there will beno undesired seepage of fresh water into thetank 47 when the pump'83 is idle. In cases where. the. water pressure atthe source 84" is ofthe order of 125 p. s. i. it is preferable,,andsometimes necessary to provide aregulating valve 88 in the. supplycircuit so that the pressure leading to the tank 47 may be maintainedbelow a predetermined maximum. I

In some dispensing installations it is desirable. to provide for thedispensing of low carbonation drinks, such as fruit ades for example,and for this purpose we may provide a carbonated water conduit 89, inparallel with the' conventional carbonated waterconduit- 5'4; whichconduit 89 is provided with a suitable regulating valve 90' by; means ofwhich the pressure in the conduit 89 may be reduced to some desiredpressure below the normal pressure within conduit54. The arrangement issuch that upon dispensing of the carbonated'water in conduit 89 from thevalve 55 a substantial portion of the carbonation is lost and a mildlycarbonated drink' provided;

Also-positioned within the tank 40, within the limits of the water coil46 is a plurality of vertically disposed tanks. 56 0f relatively smallcapacity in comparison with thecarbonatortank 47, and as will beobserved in Figure 3', each of these tanks is connected by means of aconduit Si -to one-of the syrup containers 28. In addition, each ofthetanks 564isprovid'ed with a second connection with a conduit 57 leadingto the valve- 55 so that, in effect, the tanks 56 merely form part ofthe conduit system leading from syrup containers 28 to the valve 55'.And if desired, certain of the syrup containers 28 maybe connectedwith adifierent valve, not shown, where more than one is provided. Ordinarilytwo valves of the type shown at 55 are provided wheref'our-separatefiavoring syrups are utilized.

As. indicated. in Figure. 4, the tank 40'is. adaptedto 1 etain, a liquidrefrigerating medium up. to a level sufficient to substantially coverthe. carbonator tank 47 and smaller syrup-retaining tanks 56. Anysuitable means may be provided for maintaining the liquid'medium at thelevel indicated,.such. as, for example, a float valve and overflowdrain, not shown.

In. the preferred arrangement the liquid refrigerating medium providedis plain water, rather than brine solution or the like, so that uponoperation of the refrigerating apparatus 44 a. bank of ice 58 is formed.about the refrigerating coils 43. The body of water surrounding the icebank 58 is thus maintained at a temperature in the order of but somewhatabove 32 E, and the tanks 47 and 56and the water coil 46, being indirect contact with this body of water, are maintained at a liketemperature. And it will be noted that by immersing the tanks 47 and 56directly in the water medium there is at all times. a substantialreserve supply of. beverage components. at serving temperature. Thus,the apparatus is able to handle periods of peak demands substantially inexcess of. its normal continuous serving capacity without in any wayeffecting the quality of the drink dispensed. In. addition, immersingthe carbonator tank 47 in the refrigerating, medium substantiallyimproves the efiiciency of the carbonator apparatus, it being awell-known fact that carbon dioxide is more readily dissolved andretained in water which is maintained at a low temperature.

Another feature of our apparatus which improves. the peak serving demandcapacity thereof is the provision and operation of the refrigeratingcoil 43 in such manner as to form a large ice bank 58 thereon. Thus,when the heat input into the liquid refrigerating medium is, greaterthan thecapacity of the refrigerating system 44 the icev bank is melteddown while the principal body of the liquid. medium is maintained atsubstantially the same temperature. During subsequent periods of lesserdemand the ice bank is reformed to its normal extent.

Usually it is preferable to maintain the ice bank at a predeterminedmaximum size, and this may be accomplished by providing a control bulb59 which is secured in spaced relation to the refrigerating coils 43 bymeans of a bracket 60, the arrangement being such. that when the icebank builds up to such an extent that it comes into contact with thebulb 59 the refrigerating apparatus is deenergized. An conversely, whenthe. ice bank becomes melted down to such an. extent that it no longeris in contact with the bulb 59, the refrigerating apparatus isenergized.

To insure a rapid transfer of heat from the tanks 47 and 56 and watercoil 46 we prefer to provide one. or more agitatingv devices 61, whichmay comprise, for example, a sealed electric motor and suitablepropeller, so that the body of liquid medium is circulated about thecoils and tanks and about the ice bank 58; The agitating device 61 maybe arranged to operate concurrently with the refrigerating apparatus orin accordance with a thermostatic. control device, not shown, positionedwithin the body of liquid medium, or continuously. Usually the latterarrangement is preferred.

As mentioned above, proper operation of the carbonator apparatus andrefrigerating equipment requires the provision of a suitable pump 83 anddrivemotor 63. therefor for injecting a jet stream of water into thecarbonator tank against. the pressureof the carbon dioxide gas therein,and the provision of suitable electrical.

controls for operating the motor 63, agitator 61 and refrigeratingequipment 44. In. accordance with the ob-v jects of the invention wehave mounted the motor 63 and pump. 83 on one wall 42 of the tank 40,above the level of the liquid medium. And the various control relays anddevices we may house in one or more control boxes 6.4 mounted on a wall41' of the tank. All

this apparatus is preferably positioned toward the rear: of the cabinetas illustrated in Figure 2.

To provide ready access to the motor 63 and carbonator and controlapparatus we have provided a novel removable cover arrangementcomprising a cover member 21 having downwardly extending side and rearwalls 65 and 66 all of which walls have lower end surface portionsdefining substantially a single plane. The arrangement is such that thelower surface portions of the walls 65 and 66 may be evenly supported bythe inturned edge portions 18 and 19 of the cabinet walls 12 and 13.

Rigidly secured to the upper surface of the edge portion 18 is anelongated strip 68 having an offset portion defining a slot openingtoward the rear of the cabinet assembly. In accordance with theteachings of the invention the above described slot is adapted to haveinterlocking engagement with an inturned projecting portion 69 of thetop wall 21 in the manner shown in Figure 2. Thus, assembly anddisassembly of the top 21 from the cabinet assembly proper may beeffected by sliding the top 21 toward the rear of the assembly, asindicated by broken lines of Figure 2, whereupon the top may be liftedfrom the assembly. And with the top 21 so removed from the assembly thecarbonator and control components and other important parts of theapparatus are readily accessible for inspection and maintenance, ifnecessary.

Also in accordance with the teachings of the invention we provide animproved mounting arrangement for the valve 55 comprising an upwardlyopening channel member 70 which extends transversely of the cabinetassembly and which is removably secured by means of a plurality of bolts71, for example, to the portions 19 of the cabinet assembly. Positionedwithin the channel groove of the member 70 and preferably extending theentire length of the channel is a wooden or other semiresilient fillermember 72 which extends up to a level even with the upper edges of thechannel 70.

Positioned over the channel 70 and filler 72 and partially supportedthereby is a cover member which is substantially similar to the covermember 21, and which is provided with an inturncd projecting portion 73at its forward edge adapted to have interlocking engagement with arecessed elongated strip 74 secured to the forward edge of the cabinetassembly at member 17. Cover 20 is also provided with depending wallsdefining a single plane and adapted to be supported by inturned portions19, and angle member 17.

As will be observed in Figure 2, the front cover member 20 is providedalong its rear edge with a down wardly offset portion which is adaptedto underlie and support the forward edge portion of the back covermember 21. A suitable resilient gasket member 91 is preferablypositioned between the overlapping cover members, and a plurality ofsimple screw devices 92 may be employed to secure the cover memberstogether and form a substantially fluid tight seal therebetween.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention the offset portion ofcover 20 is positioned adjacent the channel 70 and filler 72 so thatfirm and relatively rigid support is provided for the forward endportion of the back cover 21.

Valve 55 is mounted at the upper forward end of a curved tubular arm 76which houses the various flavoring syrup, carbonated water and freshwater conduits in the desired combination, and which, in accordance withpast practice, is provided with a downwardly extended threaded portion77. Thus, to mount the arm 76 to the cabinet assembly we have providedthe cover member 20, filler 72 and channel member '70 with one or morecoinciding vertical bores 78 (depending upon the number of valvesutilized in the cabinet assembly), which bore or bores are arranged toreceive the threaded portions of valve mounting arms 76. As illustratedin Figure 2 the threaded portion 78 extends below the 8 channel and isengaged by an enlarged nut 79 by means of which the arm is rigidlysecured to the cabinet structure.

Generally it is desirable to provide suitable drain facilities below thevalve 55 for disposing of drippings from the valve, for example, and forthis purpose we provide a rectangular opening in the cover member 20 inwhich is positioned a drain funnel 80 having a suitable grating 81therein which is arranged to approximately register with the uppersurface of the cover 20. A drain pipe 82 connects the funnel 80 andleads to a suitable outlet connection, not shown, which is preferablylocated at a convenient out-of-the-way location on the cabinet assembly.And as will be readily understood, all necessary external connections tothe cabinet assembly may be made at this same general location ifdesired.

To disassemble the valve 55 and mounting assembly the cover 21 is firstremoved to expose the nut 79, which nut is then removed along with thevarious conduit connections leading to the dispensing valve. The entirevalve assembly may then be removed from the cabinet proper, andthereafter the cover 20 may be removed much the same as cover 21 isremoved. The entire cabinet assembly is thus exposed and access isreadily had to practically all parts and components thereof.

In many cases it may be desirable to provide access means to therefrigerating equipment positioned below the tank 40, and if this isdesired a suitable removable door may be provided in one of the side orback walls 12 or 13.

In some installations of our apparatus it may be expedient to mount thedispensing valve 55 remotely of the cabinet structure, in which case thecover 20 may be provided without an aperture to receive the valvemounting arm 76, other openings being provided at one or more convenientlocations about the enclosing Walls of the cabinet for the beveragecomponent conduits. It is the preferred practice in installations ofthis nature to provide means for cooling the conduits leading to theremote dispensing valve or valves, and with out present apparatus we mayreadily provide such cooling by means including a circulating pump, notshown, communicating with the main body of chilled water in the tank 40and arranged to circulate such chilled water in suitable conduitspositioned in heat exchange relation with the conduits which carry thevarious beverage components. ease and simplicity of adapting thespecifically illustrated cabinet installation for the above describedmodified installation will be readily apparent to those familiar withthis art.

Thus, it should be apparent that we have fulfilled the object of ourinvention. We have provided a novel and highly useful self-containedcabinet assembly for dispensing a plurality of carbonated beverageswhich is characterized by many advanced features relating both to theconstruction of the assembly and to the ease and effectiveness of itsuse.

For example, our self-contained assembly is provided with asubstantially improved arrangement for housing a plurality of flavoringsyrup containers whereby the same are wholly concealed when in use whilebeing readily accessible for refilling upon removal of a detachablefront panel and mere tilting of the containers into exposed relation. Bymeans of a raised lip on the cabinet proper and a flexible chain forlimiting the tilting movement of the containers the same may be handledquickly and carelessly with a minimum of active attention on the part ofthe attendant. And our novel provision of a raised supporting platformpositioned in spaced relation to the retaining lip 27 provides for asubstantial line contact between the platform and containers when thelatter are in tilted position so that there is no tendency for thecontainers to'roll one way or the other.

The

Other highly advantageous features of our apparatus include theparticular described refrigerating arrangement including means forproviding reserve supplies of the beverage components and additionalmeans for providing reserve supplies of heat extracting medium so thatthe refrigerating system may be of compart size and of moderate powercapacity while at the same time enabling the apparatus to adequatelyhandle periods of peak serving demand. Thus, in actual apparatusembodying the teachings of our invention we may provide for a normalcontinuous serving capacity of 240 drinks per hour, While providing fora peak demand capacity of 1800 drinks served in continuous succession,all of which drinks may be served at a temperature of 40 F., or less.Refrigerating equipment of one third horsepower capacity is ample forsuch a system.

Other advantages reside in the construction of our cooling systemincluding a generally simplified arrangement of components, substantialeconomies resulting from the provision of the water cooling coil inseries with but ahead of the carbonator tank, and improved carbonatingefficiency resulting from the injection into the carbonator tank ofpre-chilled water and from maintaining the water in the tank at alltimes at a low temperature. In addition, the combined use of our specialcarbonator apparatus, including a high pressure pumping device therefor, with a source of chilled fresh water between the pump andcarbonator provides a highly simplified and eflicient arrangement forproviding suificient supplies of chilled and fresh carbonated water atall times. Our novel arrangement of a pump, fresh water by-pass andfresh water pressure regulator permit proper dispensing of chilled freshwater independently of operation of the pump 83 even though the freshwatersupplies for the dispensing valve and carbonator tank both passthrough the same cooling coil conduit which is located after the pump inthe line of flow of the water.

Another advantageous feature of our apparatus, both from the standpointof construction and operation, resides in the manner in which the covermembers 20 and 21. are constructed and assembled. The rear cover 21 isnormally firmly attached to the cabinet assembly proper, forming animportant part thereof, yet by merely. removing a small number of screws92, sliding the cover slightly to the rear and lifting, the rear section23 of the cabinet, containing the important working components of theapparatus, is exposed for inspection and necessary maintenance. Also, asimplified arrangement, comprising channel member 70 and wooden fillerpiece 72, is taught for providing a sturdy yet semi-resilient mountingfor the valve 55 and supportingarm 76' andsupport for the cover 20, andthe arrangement is such that thisassembly may be readily removed topermit'removal of the front cover 20, if ever necessary, in the sameman-- ner as the rear cover 21.

It should be understood, however, that the apparatus herein specificallydisclosed and described is intendedto be illustrative only, andreference should therefore be had to the following. appended claims indetermining the full scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a self-contained beverage dispensing cabinet of the type. havingmeans to supply separate carbonated flat-bottomed cylindrical containersfor flavoring syrup positioned in side-by-side relation in said space,said lip being positioned forwardly of the front edge of said platformand defining therewith a recess for the reception of the forward edgesof said containers upon tilting movement thereof, flexible conduit meansconnecting said containers and terminating on said vertical dividingwall, rigid conduit means positioned on said wall being available toconnect said flexible conduit means to said valve, and flexible membersconnecting the upper portions of said flat-bottomed containers with saidcabinet to limit the extent of outward movement of the upper portions ofsaid flat-bottomed containers with respect to said cabinet, saidretaining lip and dividing wall being adapted to substantially preventmovement of the lower portions of said flat-bottomed containers uponmovementof the upper portions thereof outwardly of said cabinet, andsaid flat-bottomed containers sitting levelly on said pl'at form aboveand in spaced relation to said recess whereby upon tilting movement saidflat-bottomed containers are in a straight-line contact with saidplatform preventing rolling movement of said cylindrical containers;

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a removable panelcomprising a front side of said cabinet said panel being normallypositioned in spaced relation to said dividing wall to define aretaining chamber for said containers.

3. In a beverage dispensing cabinet assembly of the type having means tosupply a liquid the combination of a cabinet, a refillable flat-bottomedcylindrical container for retaining a supply of said liquid, asupporting platform for said fiat-bottomed container, said platformbeing of less width than the diameter of said container, a raisedretaining lip positioned forwardly of said platform and definingtherewith a recess, and means to limit ourward tilting movement of saidfiat-bottomed container. with respect to said cabinet, said recess beingadapted to receive the forward edge portion of said flat bottomedcontainer upon outward tilting movement thereof, and said flat-bottomedcontainer sitting levelly on said platform above and in spaced relationto said recess whereby upon tilting movement said fiat-bottomedcontainer is in straight-line contact with said platform preventingrolling movement of said cylindrical containers.

4. In a beverage dispensing cabinet assemblyof the type having. means tosupply a liquid the combinationof a cabinet, a refillable flat-bottomedcylindrical container for retaining a supply of said liquid, saidflat-bottomed container being adapted for outward tilting movement withrespect to said. cabinet, means to limit said outward tilting movement,and means for supporting the lower end of said flat-bottomed containercomprising a retaining lip and a supporting platform defining with saidlip a recess, said recess being adaptedto receive the forward edge.portion of said fiat-bottomed container upon outward tilting movementthereof, and said flat-bottomed container sitting levelly on saidplatform above and in space. relation to said recess whereby upontilting movement said fiat-bottomed container is in a straight-linecontact withsaid platform preventing rolling movement of saidcylindrical containers.

5. In a beverage dispensing cabinet assembly the combination of acabinet having side walls and a top framework. including supportingportions at the top of said side walls, a beverage dispensing valve, amounting arm for said valve having a depending tubular portion at itslower end, an upwardly opening channel member secured at its oppositeends to said supporting portions, :1 semi-resilient filler memberpositioned in said open channel, said filler member and said channelmember having coinciding vertical bores therethrough to receive saidtubular portion, said mounting arm having means to engage said cabinetassembly at the upper side of said filler member, and means to engagethe lower end of said tubular portion to secure said arm to said channelmember.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further including a front top covermember for said cabinet, said cover member having depending wallsadapted to engage said supporting portions, and said cover member havinga horizontal surface portion disposed beneath said valve and arm andengaged and supported at its under surface by said channel and fillermembers.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further including a back top covermember for said cabinet, said cover member having depending wallsadapted to engage said supporting portions, said front top cover memberhaving a rearwardly extending surface portion and a downwardly offsetportion along the rear edge of said portion, said ofiset portion beingpositioned adjacent said filler portion, said back top cover memberoverlying said offset portion and being supported thereby.

8. In a self-contained beverage dispensing cabinet assembly of the typehaving means to supply carbonated water and flavoring syrup componentsto a common mixing and dispensing valve the combination of a cabinet,means dividing said cabinet into front and rear sections, a plurality ofelongated vertically disposed flat-bottomed syrup containers, retainingmeans in said front section adapted to receive the lower ends of saidflat-bottomed containers, said retaining means being operative to retainsaid lower ends while permitting outward tilting movement of the upperends of said flat-bottomed containers, said retaining means comprising aretaining lip positioned in spaced relation to said dividing means anddefining a container-receiving space, and a raised supporting platformpositioned in said space and having a supporting platform positioned insaid space and having a forward edge positioned in spaced relation tosaid lip and defining therewith a recess for receiving the forward edgeportions of said containers upon the same being moved into tiltedposition whereby a straight-line contact is formed between saidflat-bottomed containers and said platform preventing rolling movementof said containers, means connecting said containers individually andsaid cabinet to limit the extent of outward tilting movement of theupper ends of said containers, flexible conduit means connecting saidcontainers and terminating on the upper portion of said dividing means,and rigid conduit means adapted for connection with said flexibleconduit means with said dispensing valve.

9. In a beverage dispensing cabinet assembly the combination of acabinet, beverage refrigerating means in said cabinet comprising a tankadapted to retain a body of liquid cooling medium, a refrigerating coilimmersed in said medium, a carbonator device of the type comprising atank and means to inject a high velocity stream of water into said tankto foamesce the body of liquid retained therein, said tank beingimmersed in said body of cooling medium, said means to inject comprisinga cooling coil for fresh water immersed in said medium, a high pressurepump adapted to force fresh water through said coil and into said tank,a fresh water dispensing line communicating with said means to injectbetween said tank and said coil, high pressure regulating means in saiddispensing line, said pump being of the positive displacement type andhaving a low pressure by-pass check valve permitting flow of chilledfresh water from the inlet to the outlet side of said pump under lowpressure and through said dispensing line independently of the operationthereof.

10. In a beverage dispensing cabinet assembly the combination of acabinet having side walls and a top framework including supportingportions at the top of said side walls, a beverage dispensing valve, amounting arm for supporting said valve extending upwardly from said topframework, a rectangular opening in said top framework positionedadjacent said arm and said valve, grating means positioned in saidopening, drainage means connected with said opening whereby drippingsfrom said valve are disposed, a vertical dividing wall in said cabinetdividing the same into front and rear sections, carbonating and coolingmeans supported and contained in said rear section, conduit meansjoining said means with said valve, rigid conduit means connecting saidsyrup cooling means and terminated in the upper portion of said verticaldividing wall, a platform in said front section, a refillableflat-bottomed cylindrical container for retaining a supply of syrup,said platform being of ess width than said flat-bottomed cylindricalcontainer, a raised retaining lip positioned forwardly of said platformthereby defining a recess, said recess being adapted to receive theforward edge of said container upon outward tilting movement thereofwhereby said flat-bottomed container forms a straight edge contact withsaid platform, retaining members connecting the upper portion of saidflat-bottomed container with said cabinet to limit the extent of outwardmovement of the upper portions of said flat-bottomed container withrespect to said cabinet, and flexible conduit members connecting saidupper portion of said container terminating in the upper portion of saidvertical dividing wall whereby said flexible conduit means and saidrigid conduit means may be convcniently joined.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further characterized by a pair offront and back cover members for said cabinet, an elongated stripsecured to the supporting section at said back side wall, said striphaving an offset portion defining with said supporting portions at thetop of said side walls a slot rearwardly of said cabinet assembly, saidback cover member having an inturned projecting portion adapted toengage said slot whereby upon horizontal inserting movement said backcover is secured to said cabinet, and said back cover comprisingsubstantially the only top covering for the back portion of said cabinetwhereby upon removal thereof said rear section is exposed.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further characterized by said frontcover having an inturned projecting portion, and said cabinet havingmeans at the front edge thereof defining a slot for receiving said lastmentioned projecting portion in interlocking arrangement.

13. In a beverage dispensing cabinet assembly the combination of acabinet having side walls and a top framework including supportingportions at the top of said side walls, a vertical dividing wall in saidcabinet dividing the same into front and rear sections, means comprisingan insulated liquid retaining tank separating said rear section intoupper and lower portions and extending into said upper portion, motorcompressor means located in said lower portion, said insulated tankadapted for the reception of liquid cooling medium, saidmotor-compressor means connected to a condensing coil, said coil beingimmersed in said liquid cooling medium, a plurality of auxiliarysyrup-containing tanks immersed in said liquid cooling medium, acarbonator device of the type comprising a tank and means to inject ahigh velocity stream of water into said tank to foamesce the body ofliquid retained therein, said means to inject comprising a cooling coilfor fresh water immersed in said cooling medium whereby said water coilcompletely surrounds said carbonating tank and said auxiliarysyrupretaining tanks, a high pressure pumping means adapted to forcefresh water through said coil, said pumping means comprising a highpressure pump, a motor associated therewith, and control means forperiodically energizing said pump, said pumping means being positionedin the upper portion of said rear section above and in spaced relationwith said insulated tank, a beverage dispensing valve, conduit meansjoined with said valve and communicating with said carbonator and saidauxiliary syrup-containing tanks, and said top framework having aremovable portion whereby to expose said pumping means for inspectionand maintenance.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 further characterized by means fordispensing fresh chilled water, said dispensing means including apressure regulating device, said carbonating means including a checkvalve adapted to admit water to said tank only under high pressure,

13 and a second check valve adapted to permit the flow of fresh chilledwater under low pressure from the inlet to the outlet thereof.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 further characterized by a mountingarm for said beverage dispensing valve extending upwardly from said topframework, a rectangular opening in said top framework positionedadjacent said valve and said arm, grating positioned in said opening,and drainage means connected with said References Cited in the file ofthis patent opening whereby drippings from said valve are disposed. 102,569,486

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hunter Mar. 16, Lippincott Nov. 7, Dufiield Dec.22, Schneider May 18, Bowman Feb. 15, Booth Feb. 2, Mills Oct. 2,

